Trolley-switch



(No Model.)

H. L. PIERCE.

TROLLEY SWITCH.

Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

News rusas co., Primo-uma., msmnorou, D. c.

' AUNITED STATES HARRY L. PIERCE, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TROLLEY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,488, dated September 29, 1891.

Application filed October 22, 1890. Serial No. 368,904. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, HARRY L. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of NVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Trolley-Switch, of which the following is a specication.

. This invention relates to switches for conductors for electric railways, the object in View being to provide a switch which will opcrate automatically when the trolley-wheel passes over the same, and will be simple in construction and easily placed in position for use.

With these ends in view my invention consists of the peculiar construction and combination ot parts which will-be fully described hereinafter, and the points of novelty particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, showing the side upon which the trolley-wheel travels. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the opposite or upper side. Fig. 3 isv a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the lips, showing the same open to receive the wire. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the switch-lever.

Like numerals of Vreference designate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My invention consists, essentially, ot' a casting having the main plate 1 andthe leads 2, 3, and 4. Upon the upper side of' the main plate 1 are cast the lugs 5 (i7 and the pair of lips 8. Atthe extremity of each of the leads 2 3 4 are cast pairs of lips 9 10 11, similar to lips 3. In the casting these lips are left open, as shown in Fig. 5. To place the switch in position, guy-ropes are secured in the holes 12 in the main plate 1 by means of insulating material and the casting swung into position, the conductors 13 14 being placed beneath the lugs 5 6 7 and between the lips 8 9 10 ll. The latter are then closed over the conductors, as shown in Fig. 2. The

lugs 5 6 7 are provided with binding-screws 15, which are screwed down to hold the conductors in place.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the switch may be easily and quickly adjusted in position without the use of solder and the By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that Y the leads 2 3 4 on the lower side of plate 1 are arranged in the shape ot' the letter Y. i

'The lead 2,forming the stem of the letter and representing the main conductor, is in proper position to receive the trolley-wheel from either of the branches 3 4. The inner terminals of all the leads are arranged a short distance from eachother and from the center of the plate 1. Hinged or pivotally connected to the inner end of the lead 2 is a switchtongue 16, of the proper length to make contact with the inner ends ot either of the branch leads 3 4. A switch-lever 17 is pivoted to the plate 1 at a point 18 between the inner ends of the branch leads 3 4, one end of said lever extending between the plate 1 and the free end of the tongue 16, which is cut away, as at 19, to receive it. A pin 20 extends upwardly from the tongue 16 into a longitudinal'slot 21 in the end ot' the lever 17. 1t will be understood from the foregoing that by moving the free end of lever 17 the tongues 16 may be brought in contact with either of the inner terminals of the leads 3 4 to form a continuous lead to the conductor 13. Upon the free end of the lever 17 is formed a lug 22, extending` downwardly between the ends of the leads 3 4 in such position as to be operated by the side of the trolley-wheel coming in contact therewith as it nears the end of either of the branch leads 3 4. A spring 23 extends from the outer end of the lever 17, to which it is secured, lthe free end thereof passing through a slot 24 in a lug 25, depending from an extension 26, formed on the plate 1, the object of the spring 23 being to hold the tongue normally out of contact with the terminals of the leads 3 4 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The trolley-wheel, coming from the conductors over one of the leads 3 4, will come in contact with one side of the lug 22 and force it toward the other lead, thereby turning the lever 17 about its pivotal point 1S and bringing the tongue 16 in contact with the end of the lead upon which the trolley-wheel is trav- IOO cling, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, thereby forming a continuous path for the trolleywheel to the lead 2. It will be understood that the operation is the same should the trolley enter the switch from either of the leads 3 or i. The end of the tongue 16 and also of the leads 3 4 are beveled, as at 27 2S, for the purpose of making a good connection between the tongue and leads when the switch is in operation.

From the above description it will be seen that a switch constructed in accordance with my invention will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easily adjusted in position upon the conductors, and very durable and eiective in operation.

It will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction as set forth in the above description, as modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A switch for electric conductors, having a main plate and leads extending therefrom and arranged to be secured to the main conductors, a hinged tongue adapted to be swung into line with the ternlinals of the leads, a switch-lever for operating said tongue, provided with a lug arranged to be operated by the trolley-wheel, and a suitable spring for holding the same in normal position, substantially as described.

2. A switch for electric conductors, having leads, a hinged tongue adapted to be swung into line with the terminals of the leads, and a switch-lever for operating said tongue, provided with a lug arranged to be operated by the trolley-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the `foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature iu presence of two witnesses.

HARRY L. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

HAMILTON MAYO, I-IATTIE L. DAY. 

